Canted ring pipe coupling



C. L.. BROWN, JR., EI'AL Feb. 16, 1960 CANTED RING PIPE COUPLING 3 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed July 17, 1956 INVENTORS 01102153 A 320mg Jz Will/0M Zl/B/(oWJK/ 41 THEIR ATTORNEY Feb. 16, 1960 c. L. BROWN, JR., ETAL 2,925,289

CANTED RING PIPE COUPLING Filed July 17, 1956 j a Sheets-Sheet 2 BY W/u/zm zaexowsm ZFHR ATZORNEY JL7 17 Q cmzwzzm,

Feb. 16, 1960 c. LL BROWN, JR., ETAI. 2,925,239

CANTED RING PIPE COUPLING Filed July '17, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l N V EN TORS C/mzus Lbeowzvfle WILL/49M Za /rowan By K 4M MEIR ATTORNEY I i it Our invention relates as fluid conducting membersi j *r tented Feb. .16, 1960 Fig; 7 is a view similar to Figs. '5 and abut with the 7 1 coupling released from engagement with the inner part;

Fig 8 is an end view of a square locking rmg; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1,"but showing a some- CAN-TED RING PI E com V V V g 1 n' v. ca an. CharlesL;Browminpand William zurkowsli-stamford l ig s i fi ig g' y of a p g p zGo'nm,assignors to-ElectrollixCorporation, Old Green 1 f br'tion bf a h Connga'corporation of-D'elaware. 45 i e s sec f 1 L I e v coupling lfl QCQOIdflIlCfi withanother. embodiment of or rial o.598,411. n n a 't is embq ihs hj 1 Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional viewftaken. on. the line sec ring together two telescop ng parts h In accordance'with our invention a'genera'lly ii'culat j forming' part of thisembodiment; I;

' resilient locking ring' is secutedtothe outer partand is j Fig. -1 6 is -aicross-sectional view of the complete warped out of a single ,planevsovlhatl e .r ili ncyz'ot coupling in .accordance withwthis embodiment .with the the ring urges one portion thereof into an angular posiparts inlockedposition; g 7 tion with re'spect to another portion :and consequently Fig. 17 isla view similar to Figl 16, but with the reducesgthejiint e'rnal dimensiongofthetring ito-thereby locking, ring ;in,rcleased position; cause it"toifrictionally"engage the outer" surface of the Fig; 18 is' a cross-sectional View of a portion of a inner telescoping part. The ring. is so positioned. that coupling :iiijaccordance with a further embodiment of inward movementloffthe inner part tends to flatten the our invention; V v

, ring'towards asingle plane which increases the inner Fig-19' is a perspective view of a 'cam'torrning part diameter thereof, thus reducing the frictionandf perofthis further embodiment; l Y mitting movement 'in this direction. However, outward Fig. 20. a cross-sectional view of the outer part movement ofthe innerpartincreases theiwarping-of ithe, of; the coupling in accordance'with this embodiment; A ring to thereby decrease its inner .diameter, which causes .Fig. 21 :isa cross-sectional view of this coupling with it to tightly fg'rip the inner part, thus; preventing" its the two parts engaged; and withdrawal. In order that the, parts grnay be separated Fig. 22 isa cross-sectional view similar to that shown whendesired; manually operable means are provided for in Fig..21,- {but with the locking rings disengaged.

I urgingthe differenbportiOnsbf thelockin'glring towards :Referrin'g tothe Edrawingsi and more particularly to I a singl'eIplane so new release the rin ga gfromjeng'agefigs l through 7, reference character It designates the ment' with. the inner part, thus permitting withdrawal outer of two 'telescopingparts. As here shown this conthereof. v t stitutes an elbow forming part" of a'suction nozzle of a 'In accordance with one form of our invention an 40 vacuum cleaner, but it could be any hollow member. abutment or the like is provided to limit the distance The inner-diameter of member 10 is enlarged at vthe left the inner part may be insertedintothe outer part, and end'thereof, as viewed in Fig. 1, so as to provide a inasmuch as the locking ring when engaged prevents Y shoulder 12. The enlarged portion is formed with a withdrawal, the two parts are secured together-"against I comparatively large open ended slot 14 extending from movement in either direction, unless the ring is released theshoulder 12 to the end'of the member. Diametrically to permit separation. V v opposite the slot M is a smaller slot '16.

In accordance with another form ofour -invention, two Reference character lsidesignates generally a warped locking rings areoppositely warped so that one prevents or dished locking ring formed with a handle portion 26 relative movement of the parts in one direction, While extending outwardly from an offset portion 21, diametri- 'the other. prevents relative movement in the opposite cally opposite which is an outwardly extending tab 22; direction. Hence, this form, as it do'es' not depend -0n Ring 18 is made'of resilient material, such as spring an abutmentfmay be employed to lock the two parts steel and is preformed so as to be warped out of a single together in any number of dilferen't positions. Means. plane. As is shown in Fig. 1; spring 18 is secured within are provided for releasing both rings simultaneously "to the enlarged end of member 1% thetab-ZZ of the spring free the parts for relative movement in either direction being received in the slot 16,;while the handle portion 2! Further objects and advantages'of our invention will extends outwardly "through the larger slot'14. As above be apparent" from the following description when con- *stated, slot 14is open at the end thus permitting assembly sider d in nn tion. h e a l p ay s d w g ofthe ring 18 in the end of member. 10. .An endcap 24 -"Figflfl is across-section 'ance with our invention;

of which;

"i 7 Fig. 2 is aperspective-viewof a portionioig'lfthe device locking ring in the positionshown in Fig. 1.1 It willbe 3 shown in Fig "in Fig. 1;]

' part;

' Fig.-'3;i:s a perspective View of a retaining cap shown ladjacentto the shou'lder 12, while the upper part extends -Fig. '4*is an en view ofxa lockin 'f'Thgi g as'is show' n' avbe.

e -.nozzle andhose of a vacuum cleaner, is formed Fig. 5' is a cross-sectional viewgofftli in, Fig. 1v about to engage the end'ofth ':v

. With 5, but with the coupling flFig. 12-is egresssectional view' takenion' theiline *Fig 13 amend; iew 01: a lo ek siri g em sh Y Fig; 1 51 is atperspective view of ai -releasingfcam i a 7 is. secured to the enlarged portionfin any suitable manner, wof a coup ling'in accord; so as by having its lip 26 rolled into an" annular groove 28. I Cap 24 closes the outer end of slot 16, thus retaining the noted that, the lowerv half of .the ring 18 lies closely at an angle towardsth'e outer end ofthe member 10; V v

' bore ofimember 10; is formediwith a taper I {28 and the innertelescoping part30, which tube or wand,which -customarily i u dhy":

ta' en a aw n zfi t n rie ihe 1 I-Qar*}3 showninserted part way intgfth l ti V p iIn this position th cuterss-urface of therinne i 3 part 30 is in contact with the upper inclined portion of the locking ring 18. Further movement of the member 30 to the right causes the upper part of the locking ring to be bent towards the plane of the lower part, thus increasing the inner diameter of the locking ring slightly so as to permit movement of the inner part 30 in this direction. tapered end 32 seats in the tapered bore 28, as is shown in Fig. 6. With the two telescoping parts in this position it will be noted that the upper part of the locking ring 18 has been displaced towards the plane of the lower part, the

This movement may be continued until the resiliency of the ring tending to cause the upper part to i return to the position shown in Fig. 5. This results in substantial :friction betweenthe ring and the outer surface of the telescoping part 3%. If it is attempted to withdraw the inner part the friction between it and the upper portion its internal diameter and causing it to-tighten its grip on the inner telescoping part, thus preventing withdrawal.

In order to separate the parts, the handle 20 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 7 so as to bring the upper portion of the ring into substantially the same plane as the lower portion, thus increasing its inner diameter and releasing it from engagement with the outer surface of the part 3! While the ring is held in this position the two parts may be readily separated.

While telescoping parts are usually cylindrical, this is not necessarily so and in Fig. 8 there is illustrated a rectangular locking ring 13a which is suitable for use in connection with telescoping parts having a rectangular cross-section.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 is' very similar to that shown in Figs. 1 through 7, except that the handle 20a of the locking ring 13 extends straight out from the upper portion of the spring and the skirt of cap 24a is formed with a slot 32 which matches with the slot 14 in the member 16. Otherwise the construction and operation of this embodiment is the same as that previously described.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 11 through 17 a rotatable cam is provided for releasing the locking ring. As here shown, the outer telescoping member 40 is in the form of a tube and may be the opposite end of the tube or wand 30 shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. This member is formed with an enlarged end 42 provided with a pair of peripherally extending slots 44, as is shown more particularly in Figs. 11 and 12. The enlarged end is also formed with a pair of diametrically opposed openings 46.

The locking ring 48, shown particularly in Figs. 13 and 14, is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed cars 50. This ring, as was the case in the previous embodiments, is made of spring steel and is warped so that different portions of the ring are disposed in diiierent planes. As shown in Fig. 16, this ring is assembled in the enlarged end 42 of the member 40, the ears 56 being received in the small openings 46. Due to the fact that different portions of the ring are in different planes, the internal diameter is less than would be the case if the ring were flattened out in a single plane.

In Fig. there is shown a perspective view of a cam member 52 which serves to flatten the ring in order to release it from engagement from the other part, here designated by reference character 54 in Figs. 16 and 17. This inner telescoping part may be another wand similar in all respects to member 46 As shown in Figs. 15 and 16, the cam 52 is provided with diametrically opposed projections 56 extending radially therefrom which extend through the slots 44 in the enlarged end42 of member 40. The cam is not in the form of a closed ring, but isopen at 58 in order that, during assembly of the parts, the cam rnay be compressed sufficiently for the projections 56 to' pass within the enlarged end 42 until they are aligned withlthe slots 44. A cap 6% issecured to the cam 52 by means of drive screws or the like 62 which engage within the small bores 64 formed in the projections 56. As will be seen from Fig. 15, the face 66 of the cam has a profile which corresponds generally to the shape of the locking ring 48 when in unstressed or warped condition. In

Fig. 16 the cam is shown in the position in which it does not tend to flatten out the locking ring. In other words the locking ring grips the outer surface of the member 54 and retains it against withdrawal from. the member 4%.

As shown, the two telescoping members are provided with thus rotatingthe cam 52 through an are determined by I the extent of the slots 44. This causes thehigh points of the camto contact thespring and flatten it towards a single plane, as is shown in Fig. ,17. This results in increasing theinternal diameter of the ring, thus releasing'it from engagement with the telescopingmember 54 1 and consequently the latter may be withdrawn.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 18 through 21 a pair of oppositely warped locking rings is provided for engagement with the inner telescoping member. Inasmuch as one of the locking rings prevents movement of the inner member in one direction, while the other prevents movement in the opposite direction, the two parts may be locked together in any position against movement in both directions, inasmuch as a stop in the form of either mating tapers or shoulders is not required.

In Fig. 18 the outermember 40jwhich again may be a tube or wand for a vacuum cleaner, is provided with an enlarged end 76 formed with a pair of peripherally extending slots 78 and with two pairs of diametrically opposed openings 80 and 82, the openings 86 being disposed axially to one side of the slot 78, while the openings 82 are disposed axially to the-other side of the slots.

In Fig. 19 there is shown a double faced cam 84 provided with diametrically opposed radial projections 86. This cam is slit,-as is indicated at 88, in order that it may be compressed sufliciently so that the projections 86 may pass within the enlarged end 76 until they are in alignment with the slot 78, whereupon the projections will extend into these slots. Each face 90 of cam 84 is similar to the face 66 of the cam 52 shown in Fig. 15.

A pair of locking rings 92 and 94 is disposed within the enlarged end 76. Each of these rings is similar to the ring 48 shown in Figs. 13 and 14 and each ring is provided with a pair of cars received within the openings'Stl and 82, respectively. In assembling the parts, a ring 94 is first placed in position with its ears entering the openings 80 and with the ring warped therefrom towards the outer end of the wand 40. The cam 84 is next placed'in position and thereafter the other ring 92 is inserted, but reversed with respect to the first ring so that it is warped away from the outer end of the tube 40. A cap 96 is secured to the cam 84 bymeans of a pair of drive screws 98 or the like which engage holes in the projections 86. Consequently, rotation of the cap 96 with respect to the tube 40 causes the cam 84 to be rotated, the extent of the rotation being limited by the arcuate extent of the slots 78. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 20, the cam has been rotated rto'the position in whichthe high points of the cam faces bear against the locking rings 92 and 94 so as to tend to force the difierent portions of each ring into a single plane, thus increasing the internal diameterlof each ring. Inthis position the inner member 54 may be inserted to any extent desired, limited only by the length of the inner member, and this member may be moved freely in either direction. .In Fig. 21, the cam 84 has been rotated so as to permit the locking rings 92 and 94 to assume their normal warped condition, thus reducing the inner'diameter of each ring. ,If the inner member 54 isattempted to be moved towards the right, as viewed in Fig. 21, the friction between it and the outer locking ring 92 will 'tend to warp the latter still in any desired position.

the inner member to withdraw it, the friction between it and the innerlocking ring'94 tends to increase the warping of the latter, thus increasing its grip on the inner member. Consequently, theinner member'is locked against movement in either direction and, inasmuch as no shoulders or tapers are required, the members may be locked In order to release the members the cap 96 is rotated soas to bring the cam into the position shown in Fig. 22,

where each of the locking rings has ,been flattened-towards a single plane and thushas'beenireleasedifrom en-.

1 gagement with the inner men'1ber 54. Consequently, this member is free to, be movedxin either direction.

. the ring between said'taband said bent portion next to v this direction. On the other hand, if force is applied to 1 the inner side of the groove and with the other portion of 'the ring in saidgroove biased from the portion of the ring next to the inner side of the grooveat an obtuse angle, the inner part being adapted to extend through the inner diameter of the ring with at least the one portion of 7 ,the ringadjacent the other of the tabs flexibly movable While we have shown and described several'embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for the purpose of illustrationjonlyand that the scope of our invention is not to be limited"; thereby, but is to be determined from the appendedclaim.

' What we claim is:

. In a coupling for releasably" fastening togetl ef i'nner and outer tubular telescopic parts the outerfofr which has an internal groove adjacent'one end adapted'to encircle the inner part received therein, a thin resilient locking ring having a tab extending from its outer edge and another tab extending from a remote edge, said ring being bent at an obtuse angle along its mid-portion transversely between said tabs, one of said tabs being retained within the wall of the outer part for maintaining the portion of into clamping engagement therewith, the tab on the oppositeside of the ring extending exteriorly of the outer part and having means by which said ring may be manu ally flexed and temporarily straightened thereby increasing the obtuse angle of the ring and the inner efle ctive'j,

diameter thereof and relieving the clamping action of said ringion said inner'part to allow the removal bf the r', V References Cited in the file of this patent I I I V UNITED STATES PATENTS v V I 454,502 Rockwell 'Ma'r.=15,-1904 836,303 Christensen Nov. 20,

1,369,687, -Martin Feb. 22, 1921 7 2,125,477 7 'Whitney Aug. 2,1938' 2,286,991,;3 MacFadden June 16,1942

2,389,1571 Kottemann 'Nov. 20, 2,457,908 -Meyerhoefer Jan. 4, 1949 2,483,395 Benson -2. Oct. 4, 1949 2,681,807 Krafit 11111622 1954 2,691,537 Bashark a.. Oct. 12, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 284,985 Switzerland Dec. 16, 1952 1,112,609

France 'Nov. 16, 1955 

